Public works machines

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a public works machine comprising a platform equipped with a driver&#39;&#39;s cabin which is fast therewith and is oriented in the direction of translation of the machine, and with an operating equipment comprising a jib articulated on the platform about an axis 9 disposed substantially to the side of the driver&#39;&#39;s cabin, while this jib is contituted by two elements articulated with respect to one another about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of oscillation of the jib on the platform, wherein the axis of articulation of the two elements of the jib may be in a substantially vertical position, in which it is disposed substantially plumb with the front face of the driver&#39;&#39;s cabin, while the relative rotation of the two articulated elements of the jib may be at least equal to 90* and while rotation preventing means may integrate the two elements of the jib.

United States Patent Gauchet 51 June 13, 1972 [54] PUBLIC WORKS MACHINES21 Appl. No.: 889,073

1,016,916 10/1957 Germany 971,028 9/1964 GreatBritain ..2l4/l38 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner.lohn MannixAttorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relatesto a public works machine comprising a platform equipped with a driverscabin which is fast therewith and is oriented in the direction oftranslation of the machine, and with an operating equipment comprising ajib articulated on the platform about an axis 9 disposed substantiallyto the side of the drivers cabin, while this jib is contituted by twoelements articulated with respect to one another about an axis which issubstantially perpendicular to the axis of oscillation of the jib on theplatform, wherein the axis of articulation of the two elements of thejib may be in a substantially vertical position, in which it is disposedsubstantially plumb with the front face of the drivers cabin, while therelative rotation of the two articulated elements of the jib may be atleast equal to 90 and while rotation preventing means may integrate thetwo elements of the jib.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH13 M172 3369 286 SHEET 10F 2Inventor Yves M .GAucHe'r Attorney 5 PATENTEUJUH 13 m2 3, 669,286

' Q SHEET 2 OF 2 MUE Inventor Yves M CIALICHET masm fi'wufifiw s orneyPUBLIC WORKS MACHINES Public works machines are known which are quippedwith a jib mounted to oscillate on the chassis of the machine. This jibis sometimes constituted by two elements articulated together about anaxis which may be vertical for a given inclination of the element of thejib articulated to the chassis with respect thereto. Such is the case,for example, of certain machines with an offset working, so that theworking tool operates in a plane which is offset laterally with respectto the plane in which the element of the jib articulated to the chassismoves. In this case, a hydraulic ram is coupled between the two elementsof the jib and may control a limited relative rotation of the twoelements, this rotation being smaller than a few tens of degrees,through 30 in each direction for example.

It nevertheless remains that, in the machines equipped with a driverscabin known heretofore, the operating equipment is continually disposedto the front of the drivers cabin; in the best of cases, this equipmentis arranged to the front and to the side, as in the machines with anoffset working.

The general result of these arrangements is a poor visibility of theground in front of the drivercabin, this being particularly awkward whenthe machine is moving, for example along the road.

The invention intends to remedy this state of affairs and to this endproposes a novel arrangement such that, when the operating equipment hasa certain configuration, it is no longer disposed to the front of thedrivers cabin but almost completelyto the rear thereof, and thereforeallows complete visibility of the ground in front of the drivers cabin,from said cabin.

The invention therefore has for its object an improved arrangement for apublic works machine comprising a platform equipped with a drivers cabinis fast therewith and is oriented in the direction of translation of themachine, and with an operating equipment comprising a jib articulated tothe platform about an axis disposed substantially to the side of thedriver's cabin. This jib is contituted by two elements articulated withrespect to one another an axis which is substantially perpendicular tothe axis of oscillation of the jib on the platform.

When the axis of articulation of the two elements of the jib isvertical, it is disposed substantially plumb with the front face of thedrivers cabin, while the relative rotation of the two articulatedelements of the jib may be greater than 90 and preferably substantiallyequal to 180 and that rotation preventing means may integrate the twoelements of the jib.

Second locking means are advantageously provided which are capable ofintegrating the element of the jib equipped with the operating tool andthe zone of the platform located to the rear of the drivers cabin.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and toexplain various secondary features and their advantages, one embodimentthereof will now be described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings,

. in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a machine with an arrangement accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view as seen in the direction of arrow F of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine with the arrangementaccording to the invention is constituted, in the embodiment chosen, bya chassis 1 provided with rolling members, here with wheels 2. On thechassis l is rotatably mounted a platform 3 on which is disposed anoperating equipment constituted by a jib articulated on the platform 3about a horizontal axis 9 and by a balance beam 7 articulated to the jiband provided, at its free end, with a bucket 8.

The jib is itself constituted by the elements 4 and 6. These elementsare articulated with respect to one another about an axis perpendicularto the axis 9. The element 6 is articulated to the platform 3 about theaxis 9, whilst the balance beam 7 is articulated to the element 4 aboutan axis 11. Moreover, a drivers cabin 5 is fixedly mounted on theplatform 3 and is oriented in the direction of movement of the machine,when the platform 3 is itself oriented so that, from the drivers cabin,one looks towards the front of the machine, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows that one of the notable points of the arrangement chosen isthat, although the axis 9 is disposed to the side of the drivers cabin 5and substantially at the same level thereas, neither to the front nor tothe rear of the driver's cabin 5 and also close to the floor of saidcabin 5, the axis 10, when it is vertical, is advantageously disposedhigher than the upper part of the drivers cabin and substantially doesnot exceed the front face 5a of said cabin. Consequently, the part ofthe operating equipment connected with the element 4 of the jib isdisposed completely to the rear of the front face 50 of the driverscabin 5 when the element 4 has turned with respect to the element 6, asshown in dashed and dotted lines in the Figures.

The relative rotation of the elements 4 and 6 is moreover substantiallyequal to so that, in position 4, the element on which the beam is fixedhas disposed the beam and the bucket at 7' and 8 to the rear of thedrivers cabin 5.

Rotation locking means are provided for integrating the elements 4 and 6of the jib in operating position. In the embodiment shown, a pin 12cooperates with apertures 13 and 14 made respectively in the elements 4and 6, aperture 13 being more clearly visible at 13 in position 4 of theelement 4. The pin 12 is of course able to be fast with the rod of asmall control jack in order to have its engagement and disengagement inand from the apertures 13 and 14 remotely controlled from the driverscabin for example. When the pin 12 is engaged in the apertures 13 and14, the elements 4 and 6 are generally in the same plane. However, theymay also be contained in different planes forming a small angletherebetween.

Moreover, when the operating equipment connected with the jib element,on which the beam is articulated, is disposed at 4'-7-8, it may be fixedto the zone 3a of the platform 3 located to the rear of the driverscabin 5, by integration means. These means are for example constitutedby a fastening member 15 welded to the platform 3 in the zone 3a withwhich a connecting means such as'a rod 16 articulated to the bucketcooperates, the fastening member 15 and the rod 16 being temporarilyconnected by a removable pin 7.

The advantages of the arrangement according to the invention areconsiderable particularly when the machines which have adopted thisarrangement are moving.

In fact, in displacement position, when the balance beam and the bucketare at 7' and 8', as was emphasized hereinabove, forward visibility iscompletely unhindered.

It is very simple to pass from operating position (jib elements 4 and 6fast with one another) to displacement position. The pin 12 isdisengaged, possibly by remote control, and the part of the operatingequipment connected to the jib element 4 is pushed by hand or by leaningagainst a shaft or a hydraulic ram and by rotating the platform 3 withrespect to the chassis 1, until said part reaches positions 4'-7-8'. Thebucket 8' is then placed on the zone 3a of the platform. As anadditional precaution, said bucket 8' is fixed to the zone 3a with theaid of integration or locking means 15-16-17.

Finally, it will be noted that, provided that at least one of theelements 4 or 6 is judiciously shaped in the vicinity of the apertures13 and 14, the two elements, once integrated, may be contained inseparate planes, so that the machine may be used for offset working. Itis also very easy to imagine that, with the aid of a sector mounted torotate on the element 6 for example and provided with a plurality ofapertures 13 disposed at different distances from the axis of rotationof the sector on the element 6, the angle of the planes of the elements4 and 6 and therefore the amount of ofiset of the tool may be adjusted.Such a system may finally replace the locking means 15-16-17, since infact it enables the element 4' to be held in a position facing the rear.

It may therefore be conceived that, due to the adaptation of theposition of axis 10 and to the locking means provided, the

machine may operate in a manner which was hitherto unknown.

What is claimed is: I

l. A public works machine comprising, a platform having a driver's cabinfixed thereon and oriented in the direction of translation of themachine, operating equipment including a jib having an inner partoriented in a first vertical plane and pivotally attached to theplatform at one side and rearwardly of the driver's cabin for pivotalmovement in said vertical plane and an outer part supporting anearthworking tool on its outer end and pivotally connected to the outerend of the jib inner part for horizontal swinging movement through anarc substantially greater than 90 relative to the inner part of the jib,between a first operative position extending outwardly from said innerpart of the jib substantially in said first vertical plane and a secondinoperative position extending rearwardly of the pivotal connection ofthe inner and outer jib parts in a second vertical plane substantiallyparallel to said first vertical plane, said pivotal connection betweensaid jib parts lying in a plane which is immediately adjacent the frontof the drivers cabin whereby movement of said outer part to said secondposition enables an unobstructed forward view from the drivers cabin,and means to lock the outer jib part against rotation and in alignmentwith the inner jib part to provide a unitary operative jib.

2. A public works machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the pivotalconnection of the inner and outer jib parts is above the driver's cabin.

3. A public works machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the arc ofhorizontal rotation of the outer jib part relative to the inner jib partis at least 4. A public works machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein,there are second locking means located on the platform well back of thedriver's cabin for securing the outer jib part to the platform when theouter jib part is in its second position.

1. A public works machine comprising, a platform having a driver''scabin fixed thereon and oriented in the direction of translation of themachine, operating equipment including a jib having an inner partoriented in a first vertical plane and pivotally attached to theplatform at one side and rearwardly of the driver''s cabin for pivotalmovement in said vertical plane and an outer part supporting anearthworking tool on its outer end and pivotally connected to the outerend of the jib inner part for horizontal swinging movement through anarc substantially greater than 90* relative to the inner part of thejib, between a first operative position extending outwardly from saidinner part of the jib substantially in said first vertical plane and asecond inoperative position extending rearwardly of the pivotalconnection of the inner and outer jib parts in a second vertical planesubstantially parallel to said first vertical plane, said pivotalconnection between said jib parts lying in a plane which is immediatelyadjacent the front of the drivers cabin whereby movement of said outerpart to said second position enables an unobstructed forward view fromthe drivers cabin, and means to lock the outer jib part against rotationand in alignment with the inner jib part to provide a unitary operativejib.
 2. A public works machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, thepivotal connection of the inner and outer jib parts is above thedriver''s cabin.
 3. A public works machine as claimed in claim 1wherein, the arc of horizontal rotation of the outer jib part relativeto the inner jib part is at least 180*.
 4. A public works machine asclaimed in claim 1 wherein, there are second locking means located onthe platform well back of the driver''s cabin for securing the outer jibpart to the platform when the outer jib part is in its second posItion.